Late last month, Hulu announced that they'd cancelled their plans to launch a live-action series featuring Marvel's GHOST RIDER starring Gabriel Luna. As word of the disappointing development reached fans of Marvel's hot rod-happy sin-eater, the network was quick to mention that their HELSTROM series was still on track. While losing GHOST RIDER was certainly a blow to morale, a confirmation that Hulu would still be taking a trip to Hell for a new television project was a welcomed way to lick at the festering wounds.
In the interest of keeping the HELSTROM fire hot, Hulu (courtesy of Deadline) has announced the main cast of its upcoming superhero series, which is set for a 10-episode first season run. Serving as showrunner for the series is Paul Zbyszewski, with Marvel TV boss Jeph Loeb executive producing, of course.
Hellbound for DIsney+, HELSTROM will find Tom Austen (THE ROYALS) and Sydney Lemmon (VELVET BUZZSAW) leading the cast as supposed serial killer offspring Daimon Helstrom and Ana Helstrom. Joining the aforementioned stars for Marvel's twisted new series is HOMELAND alum Elizabeth Marvel, who will star as the long-institutionalized Victoria Helstrom. With these three stars confirmed, I think it's about time that we explore the rest of the cast, don't you think? Why don't we just make our way down the entire list, then?
As previously mentioned, Tom Austen will star as Damion Helstrom – A professor of ethics who moonlights as an exorcist, Daimon has no illusions about saving a world he has no patience for; he just hopes he can help a few of the people closest to him. In his battle against a hidden world, Daimon is determined to root out demons as they arise, and will not stop until they’re vanquished.
Sydney Lemmon (FEAR THE WALKING DEAD) will play Ana Helstrom. By day, Ana runs a successful auction house and suffers no fools, but her true interest lies in hunting down those who hurt others. Traumatized by her father as a child, Ana is driven to rid the world of those like him, even as she secretly worries her father will return.
Elizabeth Marvel (HOMELAND) will star as Victoria Helstrom – Plagued by demons both real and imagined, Victoria has been institutionalized for twenty years. While she struggles to be herself, she hopes to repair her relationship with her children.
BALLERS and WATCHMEN actor Robert Wisdom will play Caretaker – a guardian of knowledge of the occult. He uses his knowledge and his relationship with Ana to help keep demonic forces at bay.
June Carryl (MINDHUNTER) will act as Dr. Louise Hastings – A psychologist with a strong faith but an open mind, Hastings is head of the psychiatric hospital where Victoria is being monitored. She has watched over the Helstrom family for years, caring for them as best she can.
Arianna Guerra (RAISING DION) will walk through the flames as Gabriella Rosetti – A woman balancing logic and faith, Gabriella arrives from the Vatican to help Daimon and Hastings uncover cases of demonic possession. She wants to save everyone she can, including Daimon.
Last but certainly not least, we find Alain Uy (THE PAPER TIGERS), who is set to star as Chris Yen – Yen is Ana’s business partner and her closest friend — some would say surrogate brother. He carries out the bulk of the auction house’s responsibilities and assists Ana with whatever she needs.
“We feel incredibly fortunate to have landed a cast loaded with this much talent,” expressed EP Zbyszewski of the Helstrom unveiling. “From the beginning, we knew we’d need a group of actors who were multifaceted, who could play all the chords any great Marvel show promises to play, from dramatic thriller to comedy to action. It’s going to be really fun to watch them work.”
“Marvel Television is thrilled to have such an amazing cast that enriches Paul’s fantastic writing,” added Executive Producer Jeph Loeb. “The ensemble is the perfect way to bring our audience into our Adventure into Fear franchise causing delicious nightmares of what’s to come!”
Marvel's HELSTROM legacy began in the pages of Ghost Rider circa 1973. Damion Hellstrom AKA Son of Satan was quickly granted his own series, alongside his sibling Satana. Created by Roy Thomas and Gary Friedrich, Damion Hellstrom and his demonic compatriots were gifted with the ability to move between Hell and the 616 world above. It's to be thought that Hulu's HELSTROM will see the realm-hopping characters managing drama both above as well as below.
Marvel's HELSTROM has yet to announce a release date, though now that the main players are confirmed, one would suspect that the show will arrive sometime in 2020. With so many cosmic and whimsical Marvel series currently in development, the hope is that HELSTROM will set itself apart from the rest by digging deep into the series' horror-centric roots. After all, it's about time that Marvel introduces a real-deal horror series, don't you think? I mean, it doesn't sound as if we'll be seeing THE NEW MUTANTS anytime soon, so maybe HELSTROM is our best shot?